The 30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories eBook

Yes, I think it is very sweet—­and
very solemn and impressive, if you get the andantino
and the pianissimo right.

Pause.

Oh, gum-drops, gum-drops! But I never allow them
to eat striped candy.
And of course they can’t, till they get
their teeth, anyway.

Pause.

What?

Pause.

Oh, not in the least—­go right on.
He’s here writing—­it doesn’t
bother him.

Pause.

Very well, I’ll come if I can. (Aside.)
Dear me, how it does tire a person’s arm to
hold this thing up so long! I wish she’d—­

Pause.

Oh no, not at all; I like to talk—­but
I’m afraid I’m keeping you from your affairs.

Pause.

Visitors?

Pause.

No, we never use butter on them.

Pause.

Yes, that is a very good way; but all the cook-books
say they are very unhealthy when they are out of season.
And he doesn’t like them, anyway—­especially
canned.

Pause.

Oh, I think that is too high for them; we have never
paid over fifty cents a bunch.

Pause.

Must you go? Well, good-by.

Pause.

Yes, I think so. Good-by.

Pause.

Four o’clock, then—­I’ll be
ready. Good-by.

Pause.

Thank you ever so much. Good-by.

Pause.

Oh, not at all!—­just as fresh—­which?
Oh, I’m glad to hear you say that. Good-by.

(Hangs up the telephone and says, “Oh, it does
tire a person’s arm so!”)

A man delivers a single brutal “Good-by,”
and that is the end of it. Not so with the gentle
sex—­I say it in their praise; they cannot
abide abruptness.

EDWARD MILLS AND GEORGE BENTON: A TALE

These two were distantly related to each other—­seventh
cousins, or something of that sort. While still
babies they became orphans, and were adopted by the
Brants, a childless couple, who quickly grew very
fond of them. The Brants were always saying:
“Be pure, honest, sober, industrious, and considerate
of others, and success in life is assured.”
The children heard this repeated some thousands of
times before they understood it; they could repeat
it themselves long before they could say the Lord’s
Prayer; it was painted over the nursery door, and
was about the first thing they learned to read.
It was destined to be the unswerving rule of Edward
Mills’s life. Sometimes the Brants changed
the wording a little, and said: “Be pure,
honest, sober, industrious, considerate, and you will
never lack friends.”

Baby Mills was a comfort to everybody about him.
When he wanted candy and could not have it, he listened
to reason, and contented himself without it.
When Baby Benton wanted candy, he cried for it until
he got it. Baby Mills took care of his toys;
Baby Benton always destroyed his in a very brief time,
and then made himself so insistently disagreeable
that, in order to have peace in the house, little
Edward was persuaded to yield up his play-things to
him.